July 31, 2013

Case Western Reserve University Fundraising Campaigns

Since the university is in the midst of a $1 billion fundraising campaign, Forward Thinking: The Campaign for Case Western Reserve University, we thought it would be interesting to look at past university-wide campaigns.

The first campaign was the Resources Campaign. It was a 5-year campaign (1976-1981) raising funds for endowment, facilities, and current programs. Planning for Resources started shortly after Federation in 1967. On December 12, 1973 the Board of Trustees adopted a resolution authorizing the Trustees Resources Committee to plan a major fundraising campaign. During the early planning and fundraising stages, Resources was known as Operation Rainbow. The $215 million goal included $200 million for CWRU, $10 mlllion for University Hospitals, and $5 million for University Circle, Inc. Curtis Lee Smith, Adelbert College class of 1923 and trustee, was the national chairman. The campaign formally began February 15, 1976, the sesquicentennial of the university. It officially ended June 30, 1981 with a total attainment of $215,137,371.

Curtis Lee Smith, President Louis A. Toepfer, and Elaine Hadden hold up the banner announcing the campaign total at the closing celebration

The second university campaign was the Campaign for Case Western Reserve University. It was a 5-year campaign raising $350 million for endowment, buildings and equipment, and current support of programs. The advance gifts phase began in 1987. The Board of Trustees authorized its Development and Alumni Affairs Committee to plan a campaign at its March 1988 meeting. Marts & Lundy, Inc. (fundraising consultants) was retained to conduct a feasibility study, the report of which was made to the Board in April 1989. Formal approval was made in June and the public announcement was October 1989. President Agnar Pytte with national campaign co-chairs Richard Derbes (Case Institute of Technology class of 1968 and trustee) and Karen Horn (trustee) led the campaign to a successful conclusion in June 1994 with final attainment of $416,518,332. Alumni support more than tripled during the campaign, from $6.4 million in 1988 to $27.8 million in 1994. Over $213 million was raised for current programs, over $133 million for endowment (31 new professorships and 167 new funds for student support), and nearly $70 million for buildings and equipment.

Campaign for CWRU brochure

The first 2 campaigns for CWRU were successful. With $80 million in new commitments announced at the October 2011 public launch of Forward Thinking, along with the $660 million raised during the quiet phase, the current campaign looks to repeat the successes of past campaigns.

Posted by hxy2 at July 31, 2013 04:14 PM

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